Xia Xun took the letter and looked at it, the letter was written in Chinese, and the content was indeed as Zheng He said, and he was also happy in his heart.
However, he thought about it for a while, and said: "Chen Zuyi has always been notorious in Nanyang, and now he is begging for sincerity, or forced by the situation, but he also needs to beware of fraud, and his father-in-law may wish to ask the king of Manraka about Chen Zuyi's situation in Bolin State." ” Zheng He said with a smile: "What Guogong said is very true, I have already sent someone over. ” Xia Xun didn't know much about Chen Zuyi, he had fought with him in the East China Sea in this life, and in his previous life, his understanding of him was very limited.
Xia Xun didn't even know that the big thief Chen Zuyi had become the lord of a country, and naturally he didn't know that he had played a trick to surrender, so he told Zheng He to say this, which was really a cautious habit he developed by fighting in the north and south for many years, leading soldiers and fighting.
Zheng He fought the world with the Yongle Emperor back then, and he was also a man who had experienced a hundred battles, he led the fleet to the Western Ocean, and he was burdened with heavy responsibilities, and his mind was more meticulous, which he also thought of, and after he sent the envoy away, he immediately sent someone to see the king of Manraka.
After a while, his henchman Ha San came back and brought the news of the king of Manraka, who said that Chen Zuyi was very arrogant and a great scourge in the South Seas, and later became the king of the Bolin State, and his bad deeds were somewhat reined, because if he continued to rob his house, the so-called country was just a pirate's nest, and he avoided it in the past, how could he govern one side Therefore, since then, Chen Zuyi has rarely killed people and plundered goods, and killed them all, but whenever a guest ship passes through the port under his control, the property he collects in the name of customs duties is far heavier than that of other Nanyang countries, and his subordinates are all pirates, so it is inevitable to take advantage of it, so it has a bad reputation among the Nanyang countries, and the countries are only afraid of its power.
These news are also in line with Chen Zuyi's consistent performance, if Chen Zuyi led a group of pirates who killed people without blinking, stole a small country and immediately became a righteous man, it would be very impossible.
However, this news does not prove that Chen Zuyi's surrender has bad intentions, but only allows them to have a further understanding of Chen Zuyi's personality and current lower realm.
Xia Xun and Zheng He discussed whether to set off to visit Bolin State in the near future, and accepted Chen Zuyi's surrender, and was discussing, Xu Hu came to report again, saying that there was a person who was sneaky on the dock, and after being caught by the soldiers, he claimed to see Zheng He's father-in-law, and asked him about his intention, but he insisted on not saying it, and insisted on seeing Zheng He's father-in-law before he could speak out.
Zheng He said with a smile: "There are really a lot of uninvited guests today, bring him in." ” Xia Xun wanted to avoid it again, Zheng He said: "Guogong doesn't have to be so careful, you are sitting here, how can they know your identity" Xia Xun thought about it, the habit he had developed over the years was indeed too cautious, so he smiled and sat down.
After a while, Xu Hu personally led the man in, pointed upward, and said, "This one is our father-in-law Zheng, what do you have to say, you can say it now." ” The visitor glanced up, only to see that the person sitting on the top was dressed in a brocade python white satin robe, wearing a wingless black veil, tall, magnificent, eyebrows and facial features are extremely thoughtful, a pair of eyes are even more shining, although there is no beard under the chin, the majesty is extremely extraordinary, hurriedly stepped forward, kneeling down to meet.
The selection of officials in the imperial court, since ancient times, appearance and figure have been one of the important criteria, and the inner servants are no exception.
Among the eunuchs around Zhu Di, Zheng He is the first in terms of physical appearance, knowledge, and eloquence.
Sending an envoy to the West, that is, representing the image of the Great Son of Heaven and the Ming Empire, naturally cannot be bad.
As soon as this person saw Zheng He's appearance, bearing and majesty, he no longer had any doubts, and immediately bowed down.
When he looked at Zheng He, Zheng He was also looking at him, this person was similar to the appearance of the Nanyang people, but closer to the appearance of the people in Guangdong and Fujian, Li black skin, wearing a pair of straw sandals under his feet, ten toes habitually open, grasping steadily, is also a person who is accustomed to traveling the sea.
Zheng He asked: "Who are you and why do you ask to see me, oh you get up and answer?"
"Grandpa Xie" The man got up from the ground and said respectfully: "The villain Zhang Cheng, from Bolin State, was ordered by Lord Shi Jinqing Shi, the big leader of Nangang in Bolin State, to see Gonggong Zheng. ” "Bolin Bang again" Zheng He and Xia Xun glanced at each other and asked, "What did Shi Jinqing ask you to do?"
The man said: "The villain was ordered by Lord Shi to ask to see Gonggong Zheng, and he has something important to report."
The villain brought a handwritten letter from Master Shi" He untied his belt, bit the stitches with his teeth, tore them vigorously, and took out a crumpled letter from it, and presented it with both hands.
Zheng He took the letter and looked at it, and there was a whole line of big characters on it: "Zheng He's father-in-law personally opened" was Shi Jinqing, and Zheng He's eyebrows couldn't help but raise slightly.
Speaking of which, this pirate is also a hidden dragon and crouching tiger, listening to Shi Jinqing's name, his parents can give him such a name, and his family background will not be too bad at the beginning, and then look at the beautiful writing of this character, this person is really a bit literate.
This Shi Jinqing's father is a down-and-out talent, Shi Jinqing has studied literature with his father since he was a child, in fact, a literary talent is also quite good, but later the family situation became more and more difficult, only a child, even the county school has not been attended, so in order to make a living to join the ranks of smuggling in the sea, because he is literate and hyphenation, quite wise, so in the pirate fire merger and annexation, he has always been able to get the favor of the leader, until he finally followed Chen Zuyi.
Why did Shi Jinqing send someone here?
Snitch Chen Zuyi was hot-headed and wanted to rob the Ming fleet, and under his flickering, most of those simple-minded pirate leaders thought so, but only one Shi Jinqing did not say it explicitly at that time, but he knew very well in his heart: "Chen Zuyi is crazy" When Zheng He went to the West for the first time, he also passed through the Bolin State, when the king of the Bolin State was still the Mana Wuli, Chen Zuyi was attached to the country not long ago, just a general of the country, when Shi Jinqing managed the port, he had seen the mighty Ming fleet, the sails were like a forest, covering the sky, it was simply an invincible fleet.
The ships of the Ming army are not only huge as cities, but also have many flexible and small warships, even if such a powerful fleet is lured into the port, Chen Zuyi will not be able to eat it.
Yes, with stratagem, there are indeed examples of defeating the strong with the weak, but the difference in strength is too great, a team of 1,000 people can defeat a team of 10,000 people, can a team of 10 million people defeat a team of 10 million people?
Chen Zuyi is dead, Shi Jinqing doesn't want to go crazy with him.
Shi Jinqing was originally a literati and liked a stable life, and he did not have the adventurous and greedy surname of Chen Zuyi in his bones.
At the beginning, he defected to the pirates because he was forced to make a living, but now he is an official in Bolin State, as long as he continues to run in peace, he can enjoy the glory and wealth, so why tie his head to his trouser waist pocket again So, he sent his henchmen to Manraka and told Zheng He.
Zheng He read the letter, his face changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Chen Zuyi surrendered by deception, and wants to plot my fleet."
Zhang Chengdao: "It was Chen Zuyi who summoned the leaders from all walks of life to discuss the use of fraud to lure your father-in-law into Hong Kong.
Not only did he covet the huge wealth of the fleet, but he also hoped to seize his father-in-law's invincible warships and dominate the South Seas.
The villain is Lord Shi's confidant, when Lord Shi goes to the meeting, the villain is on the side, what Chen Zuyi said at that time, the villain heard it clearly. ” Zhang Cheng told Zheng He what Chen Zuyi had instigated the bandits, Zheng He nodded, and said: "Well, if this matter is true, Shi Jinqing will be a contributor to the country, and the court will reward him, you go down first and wait for my news." ” After Zheng He finished speaking, he said to Xu Hu: "Lord Xu, arrange a place for him to rest first."
After Zhang Cheng was taken out, Zheng He held the letter and remained silent for a long time.
Zhang Xitong, who had not spoken, said in surprise: "Chen Zuyi would be so crazy to attack my ocean-going fleet, how is it possible?"
Zheng He said: "It is better to believe that there is something than to believe that it is not."
Whether Chen Zuyi really has this intention, or Shi Jinqing is at odds with him, and the slander is framed by him, we must be careful. ” Xia Xun said: "What my father-in-law means is that we can't take the initiative to attack, and we must let Chen Zuyi expose his purpose before we can fight back."
Zheng He said: "Yes, my Ming fleet is far away, and all countries wholeheartedly welcome it, instead of panicking and worrying, the whole country is a soldier, because we are a division of peace and civilization, if we take the lead, regardless of whether Chen Zuyi really harbors evil intentions."
If we had not wronged him, we claimed that he had the intention of robbing our fleet, so he annihilated his army and destroyed his country. ” Xia Xun nodded and said: "My father-in-law is honest and holds the country, and his strategy is far-reaching, so he should deal with it safely."
Zhang Xitong still didn't believe that Chen Zuyi intended to deal with the Ming fleet, and said on the side: "Guogong, Zhenggong, in my opinion, this is probably because Shi Jinqing and Chen Zuyi are at odds, or they want to replace them with the help of the power of my Heavenly Empire."
Otherwise, Chen Zuyi has no reason to reveal his identity, and take the initiative to surrender."
Xia Xun said: "What Master Zhang thinks, it is certainly possible.
However, Chen Zuyi, as the head of a country, this news is not hidden, and when we set off for Bolin State, of course, we must learn about the situation in Bolin State from Manchuria, and his identity will still be exposed. ” Zhang Xitong nodded, shook his head again, and said with a wry smile: "The force of my Ming fleet is so strong, and it is not the first time that Chen Zuyi has dealt with my Ming Navy. ” Xia Xun said: "A person with a broken brain doesn't need a reason. ” Zhang Xitong said: "Guogong, what is brain-dead" Xia Xun smiled: "It's just stupid to the point of being incredible, and it's already incorrigible." ” Zheng He said with a smile: "Guogong always has some novel words, the word brain-dead is used very well, but the lord of a country can also be so brain-dead, not only Lord Zhang is unbelievable, I also have doubts in my heart, so I said, although we must be strictly guarded, we must not rashly listen to Shi Jinqing's words and take the initiative to attack." ” Xia Xun said: "When a person sits in the right position, he can usually do a good job.
If he sits in a position that he is not capable of, what stupid thing can he not do?"
To be continued: